perfect actors|| hyunlix ❀

Chapter 52

The day yuri confessed

"I didn't want to hurt you," I said, my voice trembling just enough to sound believable. "I really didn't. But you don't understand what it's like to have someone come into your life like that. Someone with that much power. You think you have a choice, but you don't. And you feel so stupid because, deep down, you know you're compromising yourself. But you do it anyway, because what else is there?"

I kept my eyes on the floor, letting the silence stretch between us. I wasn't lying—not completely. Everything I'd said was true, just not in the way they might think. I was trapped. I was cornered. But I was the one who initiated it.

This wasn't about guilt or regret. This was about step three: become their friend. People forgave faster when they thought you were sorry, when they believed you were as much a victim as they were.

I glanced up, carefully schooling my expression into something fragile but hopeful. Felix was watching me, his arms crossed, his eyes wary. Hyunjin looked at me like he was trying to solve a puzzle he didn't even want to touch. Perfect.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice cracking just slightly, as if I could barely get the words out.

Hyunjin's expression softened first. He stepped closer, his movements slow, cautious, like he wasn't sure how fragile I really was. "Yuri," he said, his voice lower now, gentler. "It's not your fault. You didn't do this because you wanted to hurt us. You did it because you were trapped."

The sincerity in his tone almost made me feel bad. Almost. But this was necessary. If I didn't win them over, if they didn't let me stay close, I wouldn't stand a chance at completing the other steps.

Felix looked kind. sometimes, a bit too much. he cared about me, thinking we were in the same boat but i couldn't say anything but feel a tiny bit of guilt as he treated me like i belonged  here—with them.

"I just..." I paused, letting my voice falter as I wiped at my face. "I don't know how to fix this. But I want to. Please, let me make it right."

Hyunjin's hand rested lightly on my shoulder, a careful but deliberate gesture. "You don't have to do it alone," he said softly.

It was almost too easy.

The days that followed were an awkward balancing act. I kept my head down, pretended to help wherever I could, and stayed out of their way unless they pulled me in. Step four: prevent them from anything and everything.

Hyunjin was surprisingly easy to win over. He was polite, professional, and even friendly at times, though I could tell he was still guarded. Felix, on the other hand, was harder to crack. He kept his distance, always watching me.

But that was fine. I didn't need him to always be around me. after all, the kindest souls are the toughest.

"Yuri, what do you think?" Hyunjin asked one afternoon, holding up his phone to show me a photo from the shoot. "Too dramatic?"

I blinked, caught off guard. I hadn't expected him to ask for my opinion so casually, like we were old friends. "Uh... maybe if you adjust the lighting? It might bring out the colors better."

He nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Good idea."

Felix glanced over from where he was sitting, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. He didn't say anything, but the tension was there.

I noticed it more and more as the days went on. The way Felix's gaze would linger whenever Hyunjin spoke to me, the way his shoulders stiffened when Hyunjin laughed at one of my comments. It wasn't obvious, but it was enough to make me wonder.

Interesting...they fell quicker than I thought.

 The first opportunity for them to be in a relationship came when Felix was alone near the dressing room, scrolling through his phone.

"Hey," I said, stepping into his line of sight.

He looked up, startled "Need help with anything?"

  "I just wanted to talk." I said, holding up my hands in mock surrender

He raised an eyebrow but didn't move away.

"So," I said casually, leaning against the wall. "You and Hyunjin. What's the deal?"

Felix frowned, his eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on," I said, rolling my eyes. "You don't have to pretend with me. It's obvious."

His face flushed, and he quickly looked away. "You're imagining things," he muttered.

"Am I?" I asked, tilting my head. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're into him. And honestly? he feels the same way."

Felix opened his mouth to argue but snapped it shut just as quickly. His silence told me everything I needed to know.

I smirked, keeping my expression playful. "Look, I'm not trying to mess with you. If anything, I think you two should stop dancing around whatever this is and just go for it."

He stared at me, his lips parted like he didn't know what to say. Finally, he shook his head and walked away, muttering something under his breath.

I watched him go, a satisfied smile tugging at my lips. This  wasn't about manipulation—it was about nudging things in the right direction. And if Hyunjin and Felix ended up together, well...I can finally escape but...why am i starting to grow reluctant?